Chris Carter, MPH
@chriscarter-epi.bsky.social
Genomic epidemiologist, public health researcher, and general nerd from Kansas
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
Some watercolor bacteria and viruses for your wall artologica.etsy.com Original #sciart paintings, one of each 🧪🦠
September 15, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Some watercolor bacteria and viruses for your wall artologica.etsy.com Original #sciart paintings, one of each 🧪🦠
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
When science is understandable, we all win. I've started a national petition calling on all institutions of higher education, and their accreditors, to require science communication and public engagement training for all STEM degrees. Share and sign today, it only takes a few seconds: bit.ly/3LbnfHB
November 8, 2025 at 5:31 PM
When science is understandable, we all win. I've started a national petition calling on all institutions of higher education, and their accreditors, to require science communication and public engagement training for all STEM degrees. Share and sign today, it only takes a few seconds: bit.ly/3LbnfHB
I am now a local expert. Fear my power
www.ksnt.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:41 AM
I am now a local expert. Fear my power
Excited to share that Kansas now has a wastewater dashboard for SARS-CoV-2, FluA/B, and RSV!
#IDEpi #Medsky #kansas #PublicHealth
#IDEpi #Medsky #kansas #PublicHealth
datainsights.kdhe.ks.gov
November 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Excited to share that Kansas now has a wastewater dashboard for SARS-CoV-2, FluA/B, and RSV!
#IDEpi #Medsky #kansas #PublicHealth
#IDEpi #Medsky #kansas #PublicHealth
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
The new, 7th edition of 'A Dictionary of Epidemiology' will be published in April 2026.
As previous editions, it is sponsored by the International Epidemiological Association (IEA), and published in New York by Oxford University Press.
The book will be published online on www.oxfordreference.com.
As previous editions, it is sponsored by the International Epidemiological Association (IEA), and published in New York by Oxford University Press.
The book will be published online on www.oxfordreference.com.
www.oxfordreference.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:25 PM
The new, 7th edition of 'A Dictionary of Epidemiology' will be published in April 2026.
As previous editions, it is sponsored by the International Epidemiological Association (IEA), and published in New York by Oxford University Press.
The book will be published online on www.oxfordreference.com.
As previous editions, it is sponsored by the International Epidemiological Association (IEA), and published in New York by Oxford University Press.
The book will be published online on www.oxfordreference.com.
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
Kansas doesn't have the votes to redistrict, Sharice Davids' seat won't be touched.
apnews.com/article/redi...
apnews.com/article/redi...
Kansas Republicans drop push to enter nation's widening redistricting battle
Top Kansas Republicans have given up for now on forcing a special session of the Legislature to redraw the state’s U.S.
apnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Kansas doesn't have the votes to redistrict, Sharice Davids' seat won't be touched.
apnews.com/article/redi...
apnews.com/article/redi...
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
“Science is never settled” sounds reasonable—but it’s often a rhetorical trick to undermine consensus on issues like vaccines or climate change.
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
There is such a thing as 'settled science' — anyone who says otherwise is trying to manipulate you
How bad-faith arguments sow doubt by weaponizing scientific humility.
www.livescience.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:36 AM
“Science is never settled” sounds reasonable—but it’s often a rhetorical trick to undermine consensus on issues like vaccines or climate change.
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
Science evolves, but some things are overwhelmingly supported by evidence.
My latest for Live Science
www.livescience.com/...
1/10
Also the Shire was protected by the Dúnedain - men known for their softness, wisdom, and poetry - not Gondor. Gondor may have kept the distant threat of Mordor in check, but they didn't even know that the Hobbits were real
The "hard-men" of Gondor were getting their shit kicked in until they were rescued by foreigners and a girl.
The Shire was doing fine until they let a fascist demagogue ("Sharkey" aka Saruman) take over, close the gates, impose a bunch of thug-enforced rules, and despoil nature for profit.
The Shire was doing fine until they let a fascist demagogue ("Sharkey" aka Saruman) take over, close the gates, impose a bunch of thug-enforced rules, and despoil nature for profit.
October 29, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Also the Shire was protected by the Dúnedain - men known for their softness, wisdom, and poetry - not Gondor. Gondor may have kept the distant threat of Mordor in check, but they didn't even know that the Hobbits were real
A LOT of state/federal public health tools and databases rely on AWS (or similar services like Azure) too.
AWS outage seemingly takes down Medicare website during open enrollment...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
October 20, 2025 at 4:47 PM
A LOT of state/federal public health tools and databases rely on AWS (or similar services like Azure) too.
As molecular epidemiologists, we talk about the ethics of wastewater monitoring frequently. We've talked about this exact scenario of being asked to surveil abortion medication. We all agreed we'd resign on the spot.
EPA officials directed scientists to assess whether the government could develop methods for detecting abortion pills in wastewater — a practice sought by the anti-abortion movement. The request appears to have originated from a letter sent from GOP members to Lee Zeldin, the EPA administrator.
Under Trump, E.P.A. Explored if Abortion Pills Could Be Detected in Wastewater
Scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency found that they could develop methods to identify traces of the medication if necessary — a practice long sought by the anti-abortion movement.
nyti.ms
October 10, 2025 at 5:46 PM
As molecular epidemiologists, we talk about the ethics of wastewater monitoring frequently. We've talked about this exact scenario of being asked to surveil abortion medication. We all agreed we'd resign on the spot.
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
Biology is not just physics and chemistry; it is also history. You will never be able to solve it numerically. Theory cannot account for the fact that this potential ancestor with these genes twisted its ankle and died, even if it had 'better' genes overall.
October 9, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Biology is not just physics and chemistry; it is also history. You will never be able to solve it numerically. Theory cannot account for the fact that this potential ancestor with these genes twisted its ankle and died, even if it had 'better' genes overall.
There are fantastic opportunities for more One Health applications of pathogen genomics, but independent development has led to massive schisms between public health, veterinary, academic, and governmental programs. Bridging those chasms is key to further insights.
Two investigations reveal how resistant bacteria may have spread from pets to people
Molecular analysis and epidemiologic detective work helped uncover a hidden One Health link between human and pet clusters of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/a...
Molecular analysis and epidemiologic detective work helped uncover a hidden One Health link between human and pet clusters of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/a...
October 2, 2025 at 8:59 PM
There are fantastic opportunities for more One Health applications of pathogen genomics, but independent development has led to massive schisms between public health, veterinary, academic, and governmental programs. Bridging those chasms is key to further insights.
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
📖 New textbook: Molecular #Epidemiology for #InfectiousDiseases introduces key methods and applications across phylogenetics, microbiome, transcriptomics, and sero-epidemiology. Includes multimedia flashcards for active learning. @ucl.ac.uk
doi.org/10.1007/978-...
#GlobalHealth #OneHealth
doi.org/10.1007/978-...
#GlobalHealth #OneHealth
September 29, 2025 at 8:58 AM
📖 New textbook: Molecular #Epidemiology for #InfectiousDiseases introduces key methods and applications across phylogenetics, microbiome, transcriptomics, and sero-epidemiology. Includes multimedia flashcards for active learning. @ucl.ac.uk
doi.org/10.1007/978-...
#GlobalHealth #OneHealth
doi.org/10.1007/978-...
#GlobalHealth #OneHealth
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
if they say something and you say that's not true, your response is still shaped like their frame
Your frame has to *contain and explain* their frame, not just contradict it.
You have to eat their frame. Like Kirby
Your frame has to *contain and explain* their frame, not just contradict it.
You have to eat their frame. Like Kirby
September 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
if they say something and you say that's not true, your response is still shaped like their frame
Your frame has to *contain and explain* their frame, not just contradict it.
You have to eat their frame. Like Kirby
Your frame has to *contain and explain* their frame, not just contradict it.
You have to eat their frame. Like Kirby
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
If you’ve been following the RFK Jr autism news, then you’ve probably heard that there’s a systematic review “proving” Tylenol causes autism.
Here’s my review of that paper👇🏼
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Here’s my review of that paper👇🏼
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
The best evidence Tylenol causes autism isn't great
On Monday, RFK Jr announced Tylenol ‘causes’ autism referencing three studies as evidence. Let's dive in.
open.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 8:20 PM
If you’ve been following the RFK Jr autism news, then you’ve probably heard that there’s a systematic review “proving” Tylenol causes autism.
Here’s my review of that paper👇🏼
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Here’s my review of that paper👇🏼
open.substack.com/pub/epiellie...
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
The New York Times piece today about US science is terrible and wrong—in many ways.
I could write a whole article about this, but as one example:
“To close observers, the original crisis began well before any of this…”
No. I’m a close observer of science, and this is incorrect.
I could write a whole article about this, but as one example:
“To close observers, the original crisis began well before any of this…”
No. I’m a close observer of science, and this is incorrect.
September 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The New York Times piece today about US science is terrible and wrong—in many ways.
I could write a whole article about this, but as one example:
“To close observers, the original crisis began well before any of this…”
No. I’m a close observer of science, and this is incorrect.
I could write a whole article about this, but as one example:
“To close observers, the original crisis began well before any of this…”
No. I’m a close observer of science, and this is incorrect.
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
Pointing out how safe DC by showing the low crime rates isn’t going to convince conservatives because “people breaking the actual law” isn’t what they mean by “crime”. To them, “crime” includes merely seeing black people, unhoused people, and anyone else the bigots clutch pearls about as “crime”
August 11, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Pointing out how safe DC by showing the low crime rates isn’t going to convince conservatives because “people breaking the actual law” isn’t what they mean by “crime”. To them, “crime” includes merely seeing black people, unhoused people, and anyone else the bigots clutch pearls about as “crime”
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
These guys restricted access to COVID vaccines because they claimed that there needed to be more clinical trials, yet are banning food dyes because “vibes.” Unbelievable.
Makary: "We have a lot of data and it may not necessarily be the traditional 50 year randomized control trial follow up. It's data from families that say their kids have been acting with bad behavior ... and they eliminate the petroleum-based food dyes and the behavior improves. That is data."
July 19, 2025 at 10:25 PM
These guys restricted access to COVID vaccines because they claimed that there needed to be more clinical trials, yet are banning food dyes because “vibes.” Unbelievable.
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
We ran a randomized controlled trial to see how much AI coding tools speed up experienced open-source developers.
The results surprised us: Developers thought they were 20% faster with AI tools, but they were actually 19% slower when they had access to AI than when they didn't.
The results surprised us: Developers thought they were 20% faster with AI tools, but they were actually 19% slower when they had access to AI than when they didn't.
July 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
We ran a randomized controlled trial to see how much AI coding tools speed up experienced open-source developers.
The results surprised us: Developers thought they were 20% faster with AI tools, but they were actually 19% slower when they had access to AI than when they didn't.
The results surprised us: Developers thought they were 20% faster with AI tools, but they were actually 19% slower when they had access to AI than when they didn't.
Same with government public health work. More "data walks" and other public engagement to showcase how advances in science--and humanities!--advance our health.
There's a fear that if R legislators know more about our work, they'll ban it, but people can't support what they don't know about.
There's a fear that if R legislators know more about our work, they'll ban it, but people can't support what they don't know about.
We need more of this and not only in the halls of congress. Every day when I talk to people outside of academia and medical research, I am disheartened by how few people are aware of the ongoing savage cuts to science and research funding. If you don't know what you are losing you cannot care.
BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.
July 8, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Same with government public health work. More "data walks" and other public engagement to showcase how advances in science--and humanities!--advance our health.
There's a fear that if R legislators know more about our work, they'll ban it, but people can't support what they don't know about.
There's a fear that if R legislators know more about our work, they'll ban it, but people can't support what they don't know about.
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
Breaking: The FDA has approved a vaginal swab that will allow people to screen for HPV — which causes almost all cases of cervical cancer — at home instead of getting a Pap smear, which can be painful and/or traumatic for many
F.D.A. Approves First At-Home Alternative to the Pap Smear
www.nytimes.com
May 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Breaking: The FDA has approved a vaginal swab that will allow people to screen for HPV — which causes almost all cases of cervical cancer — at home instead of getting a Pap smear, which can be painful and/or traumatic for many
@mmmletsgo.bsky.social @mammalssuck.bsky.social What happens to combatants that are translocated but then flee the field of battle? Do they get transported back or are they forced to deal with their new environment? My wife is worried #2025MMM
March 20, 2025 at 2:09 AM
@mmmletsgo.bsky.social @mammalssuck.bsky.social What happens to combatants that are translocated but then flee the field of battle? Do they get transported back or are they forced to deal with their new environment? My wife is worried #2025MMM
Reposted by Chris Carter, MPH
The Democrats on the House Science Committee have set up a website to collect stories from fired federal employees, anonymously if desired. Please amplify. (This helps the lawyers establish standing for bringing legal cases against the administration!)
democrats-science.house.gov/sciencefirings
democrats-science.house.gov/sciencefirings
February 19, 2025 at 6:24 AM
The Democrats on the House Science Committee have set up a website to collect stories from fired federal employees, anonymously if desired. Please amplify. (This helps the lawyers establish standing for bringing legal cases against the administration!)
democrats-science.house.gov/sciencefirings
democrats-science.house.gov/sciencefirings
The federal government is the largest employer in Kansas City. Most of my coworkers are employees of the State but get their paychecks from federal sources. The economic impact of these firings alone are devastating.
#ksleg
#ksleg
Most federal workers (and workers for government contractors, and workers for institutions that receive federal grants) works outside of the DC metro region. The initial impacts may be concentrated here first but this is going to hit everywhere in short order.
I’m not sure the rest of the country fully grasps the panic and anger building in DC, MD, and VA.
The entire economy of this area is about to collapse. Paychecks are stopping. Careers are ruined. Taxes are about to plummet. Yet no one seems able to stop this madness.
The entire economy of this area is about to collapse. Paychecks are stopping. Careers are ruined. Taxes are about to plummet. Yet no one seems able to stop this madness.
February 18, 2025 at 4:25 PM
The federal government is the largest employer in Kansas City. Most of my coworkers are employees of the State but get their paychecks from federal sources. The economic impact of these firings alone are devastating.
#ksleg
#ksleg